GURUGRAM: Schools across the city are ready to reopen their gates for students in classes 1 to 3 on Monday. Wearing masks and maintaining at least a gap of at least six feet, children in primary sections will head back to campuses after a year and a half.
While the schools are prepared to welcome back the students, many parents are still unsure about giving consent for offline classes.
As many as 534 government schools in Gurugram have updated the thermal scanning and hand sanitisation facilities at their campuses. According to officials, students and teachers will be scanned for temperature, the records of which will be updated on the Avsar app. Officials added that students will sit on alternate desks and only one child will be allowed per desk.
All such measures, however, will be in place only once the parents have given their written consent letter allowing their children to attend physical classes.
On facilities for the primary school students, district project coordinator Kalpana Ranga said more taps have been installed in government schools to inculcate the habit of washing hands with soap.
“These students are very young. Parents have regularly raised concern that the children don’t know how to properly use a sanitiser. We will make sure that they wash their hands every time they step out of the class.”
Furthermore, mid-day meals will not be given in the backdrop of the situation and students will be prohibited to share food, water and books. In addition, preference will be given to classes in an open space and not in the classrooms.
“All rules will be scrupulously adhered to and we anticipate a large turnout,” said Manoj Kumar Larka, elementary headmaster at Government Senior School in Bajghera.
However, some parents TOI spoke to expressed concern as children are still not vaccinated. They said they were unsure whether they should send their kids back to schools or not.
“They are young and don’t understand things easily. It is difficult to make a decision. They have been at home for a long time and we want them to interact, but at what cost?” said Anita Rani, whose daughter is a Class 2 student.
Officials, on their part, have been trying to reassure the parents. “I am getting calls from parents regarding their concerns. We have assured them that Covid norms will be in place and they need not worry,” said Kalpana.
Meanwhile, private schools are also keen to resume classes. DPS School in Sector 45 has received consent from 120 parents.
“We have sent the online forms to the parents and many of them want to send their children back to school. We are preparing to resume primary classes by Wednesday,” said Aditi Mishra, principal of the school.
